GENEVA, Dec 15 (APP): Highlighting that Pakistan is still hosting over 1.4 million Afghan refugees, a senior Pakistani diplomat has called on the world community to continue providing Islamabad with the necessary support to take care of them. Speaking at the Global Refugee Forum (GRF), Pakistan\u2019s Special Representative for Afghanistan, Asif Durrani said that Pakistan, for over four decades, shouldered the global responsibility of hosting, protecting, and assisting Afghan refugees.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe reaffirm this pledge to Afghan refugees, who enjoy equal access to basic facilities of life at par with Pakistani citizens.,\u201d he told the Forum , the world\u2019s largest international gathering on refugees and host communities. \u201cThis is despite the fact that like many other developing countries, Pakistan continues to grapple with the triple crises of food, fuel and inflation,\u201d Ambassador Durrani said. \u201cWe sincerely hope that the international community will continue to demonstrate its responsibility by providing sustained and adequate support to Pakistan as a host country,\u201d he added. In his opening speech, UN refugee agency (UNHCR) chief Filippo Grandi told delegates that a record 114 million forcibly displaced, around the world, represent a \u201ccrisis of humanity\u201d. <\/p>\n
The Global Refugee Forum \u2014 co-hosted by UNHCR and Switzerland and convened by Colombia, France, Japan, Jordan and Uganda \u2014 brings together member states, civil society, financial institutions, private companies and more than 300 refugee advocates. Setting the tone for the discussion, Grandi said that 114 million \u201crepresents the number of refugees and displaced people whom persecution, human rights violations, violence, armed conflict, serious public disorder have forced from their homes: 114 million shattered dreams, disrupted lives, interrupted hopes.\u201d In his remarks, Ambassador Durrani pointed out that international burden and responsibility sharing was disproportionate, inequitable, and unpredictable while developing countries continue to host around 80% of refugees population out of their own meager resources. \u201cRegrettably,\u201d the Pakistani envoy said, \u201cInternational support to the displaced and the distressed has become most scarce when it is most needed.\u201d On its part, he said, Pakistan has recently launched a third tranche of 4500 education scholarships for Afghans including refugees.<\/p>\n
Pakistan provides 100 percent medical facilities to Afghan refugees while 95 percent of secondary and tertiary health support to Afghan nationals, visiting Pakistan. \u201cPakistan has, therefore, led by practice,\u201d Ambassador Durrani said. The very act of hosting over 1.4 million Afghan refugees was Pakistan\u2019s continued pledge to addressing safety and protection needs of people in vulnerable situations, he said, adding this was besides the 0.9 million Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) holders, staying in Pakistan with equal rights. Stressing the need for advancing durable solutions for refugee situations, the Pakistani envoy said the absence of war in Afghanistan after four decades of conflict, provides a window of opportunity. \u201cAddressing the dire humanitarian situation in Afghanistan must remain a top priority,\u201d he said. Economic revival and international support for development, reconstruction and rehabilitation activities were also needed to create conditions conducive for voluntary returns. After the withdrawal of US\/NATO troops from Afghanistan in August 2021, he said, Pakistan received additional 0.7 million Afghan nationals, presumably to settle in third countries. However, so far, a maximum of 150,000 have been repatriated to third countries. The promise of third-country resettlement has largely remained a distant dream for Afghans, he pointed out. \u201cThe slow pace of resettlement process is a source of concern for Pakistan,\u201d Ambassador Durrani said. \u201cWe look forward to an impactful, multi-year, and well-resourced commitment by global partners for Afghan refugees and their host communities in all these areas.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
GENEVA, Dec 15 (APP): Highlighting that Pakistan is still hosting over 1.4 million Afghan refugees, a senior Pakistani diplomat has called on the world community to continue providing Islamabad with the necessary support to take care of them. Speaking at the Global Refugee Forum (GRF), […]<\/p>\n
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